Even Though…

Do you ever have times when life seems to be crashing down all around you?

The ending of this year has been tough for many people. Death, destruction, divorce, despair, drought. All of these are affecting people’s perspectives on life as we know it. Where is the hope when times are down?

Do you know the Lord?

This is kind of a cliché, but, seriously, do you know Him?

Do you know His might? Have you experienced it in your life? Did you notice when He worked mightily for you as a fulfillment of Romans 8:28 in spite of uncertain future events? Do you hear Him call you to draw near to Him? Do you feel His presence when you’re alone? Do you talk with Him like He’s your Father?

Do you know the Lord?

Many people know ABOUT God. They read (or have read) about Him in the Bible. They may even go to bible class and worship services, but their experience with God is entirely intellectual. This is not what God intended for us. This is not why Jesus came to the earth to make the way to God through his death on the cross and resurrection. Now that you have access directly to the Father through Jesus and by His Spirit living in you, you can have relationship with God Most High as His child.

When you get to know God, you find He is wonderful in every way. He is gentle and ferocious. He is loving, and He avenges those He loves. He is generous, but He is also a disciplinarian. He is the ultimate Father – better than any earthly, flawed, human father could hope to be.

So, times are down. Hope is distant. This year has been tough for you, and the next year doesn’t look too bright either.

Look to the Lord like Habakkuk.

Around 612-606 B.C., Habakkuk had a conversation with God concerning the future of His homeland. He asked God, “Why don’t You do something about all the injustice in the land?” (This is a common question many of us ask today.) God responded by telling Habakkuk about the exile of Judah to Babylon. Habakkuk recoiled at the idea that a heathen nation who didn’t recognize God would be used to discipline God’s chosen. But God comforted Habakkuk with words of just enough explanation to ease Habakkuk’s consternation.

Habakkuk learned of God’s justice but also of His love for His children. He learned of God’s might and constancy. He learned to see God with the faith that leads to righteousness. This would lead Habakkuk to finish His conversation with God in worship.

Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
Jehovah, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me tread on my high places.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Did you see the scene Habakkuk sets up as he is led into worship? All of life around him is failing. Economy is collapsing, and famine is knocking at the door, but this will not dissuade Habakkuk from his faith in God.

In fact, “Though” is a mighty word here. No matter the situation, whether good times or bad, Habakkuk will take joy in God and look to Him for strength and salvation. He may not be able to see or understand the future, but he knows God is already there and has promised to be with him.

Hebrews 13:5-6 reminds the church that God has said, “I will never leave or forsake you.” This gives us confidence to resist fear.

Fear cripples us. Despair is a form of doubt. But God is near to the broken-hearted (Psalm 34:18).

So, no matter how bad this year has been, and no matter what may come in the upcoming years, we can still rejoice in the God who has saved and continues to save us through the trials of this life because of our hope in the life to come. Know the Lord. Know His comfort. Rejoice in Him. And share His goodness with others who are struggling.

Celebrating the Wrong Birthday

The other day was my son’s birthday. It was a wonderful day to remember the years and how he has grown so much. I’m very proud of him.

I remember when he was born. I remember so many of his “firsts” as he learned and experienced new things. He has made me proud, so why wouldn’t I celebrate his birth?

Or culture makes a really big deal out of birthdays. It is easy for parents to get caught in a trap of having to outdo last year’s party so as not to disappoint. Birthday parties become more and more expensive each year, and that’s not even regarding the presents.

It seems like every day I have a whole list of friends who are celebrating their birthday. The funny thing is, however, these celebrations are a relatively new concept for “normal” folk.

Birthday celebrations have their origin in paganism as people believed evil spirits would visit a person on the day of their birth each year, so they would surround themselves with people who were jolly in order to keep the spirits at bay. The ones who celebrated birthdays for the sake of celebration were usually noblemen or kings with the money to celebrate with much pomp.

Birthday celebrations are much fun, and I enjoy them each time they come around, but is this the biggest event we should celebrate in our lives each year?

Maybe we are celebrating the wrong event.

In Luke 15:10, Jesus says these words, “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

When you come to Jesus the angels throw a party in heaven!

Maybe we should take a cue from the angels. When a person is baptized, maybe we should throw a party. Then, maybe we should be celebrating that new birth each year.

Do you remember the day you came to Christ? My physical birthday is coming up in June, but my spiritual birthday – the day my sins were washed away and I received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) – is September 8. That’s the day the angels threw a party for me.

When is your spiritual birthday? If you haven’t had it yet, the angels are waiting to throw a party for you.